By: J. Daniel Pearson
For Positively Osceola
The college football transfer portal is a two-edged sword. On one hand, boosters and fans scream and cry about no loyalty when a kid leaves their program and then the same group turns around and gushes nothing but love when a kid transfers into their program. How is there any consistency in that message? At least coaches are smart enough to realize it is a new reality. UCF Head Coach Gus Malzahn takes it a step further by openly embracing the portal and calling UCF “an unbelievable place for transfers”….
Speaking of loyalty, the coaching carousel is still spinning around at warp speed and it has been fascinating to watch. A lot of people – including my friend and Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi – bashed Brian Kelly for leaving Notre Dame the way he did, as the Irish were still theoretically in contention for a playoff spot. Mike noted that when Scott Frost left UCF “he did it the right way” and coached the team through its bowl game. But the truth of the matter is there is no good way to leave and a lot has changed since Frosts’ departure. In defense of Kelly, he was offered a 300% raise and LSU wanted an answer. Furthermore, when Frost left UCF it was only the first year of the critical early signing period, where no one really knew the implications that would bring. Fast forward to today when 90% of the four and five-star recruits sign early, and it is a lot easier to understand why schools want to get their new coach on board as soon as possible…
Quote of the Day — “I’ve become sick of chasing my dreams. From now on, I am just going to ask them where they are going and will try to hook up with them later”…
If NFL taught us one thing this past weekend, it’s EVERY TEAM that has good players and that when a team gets embarrassed one weekend, it’s a pretty good bet they will play lights out in its next game. Cases in point: Lowly Detroit got their first win yesterday, but were you aware of the fact that four of their losses caF the college football playoff with a win over Georgia and Cincinnati secured its spot with a convincing win over Houston in the AAC Championship game; while Oklahoma State ruined any chance for sneaking past Cincinnati for the final spot by losing to Baylor. As we move forward to the playoffs, I have a question and an observation. First, why in the world are they moving the semifinal games back to New Year’s Eve? I can’t believe that is going to help their television ratings. Second, if Alabama manhandles Cincinnati as expected, football Power 5 Elitists will be screaming from the top of their lungs “See, I told you the Bearcats didn’t belong” to which I will simply reply “Hogwash.” This will be the eighth season of the current format and it needs to be pointed out that nine of the 14 previous semifinal games have been decided by 20 or more points. Where is the outrage of Michigan State (38-0 loss to Alabama) in 2016, Ohio State (31-0 loser to Clemson) in 2017, Notre Dame (30-3 losers to Clemson) 2019, and Oklahoma (63-28 losers to LSU) in 2020 not belonging? The National Championship in college football will remain a mythical national championship until a clear format is installed and all Division-1 teams can compete for the championship….
Y’all Have a Good Week…
By: J. Daniel Pearson
For Positively Osceola
J. Daniel Pearson, a long-time resident of Osceola County, has joined Positively Osceola as a freelance contributor. His JD’s Monday Morning Musings column is a regular feature and he will be covering events for us throughout the year. Dan is a former Public Relations Specialist for Florida State University, Boardwalk and Baseball, the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, the Orlando Predators, and other professional sports teams and has been a freelance reporter to many newspapers in the state.
